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| An Overview on
Automotive Recycling |
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| What is Automotive Recycling? |
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| The automotive recycling
industry with $8.2 billion in (U.S. and Canada)
sales annually plays a necessary and crucial
role in the efficient, ecological disposal
of inoperable motor vehicles. Although sometimes
known as auto salvage dealers, professional
automotive recyclers deal strictly in the
recycling of motor vehicles i.e., domestic
and foreign automobiles, light and heavy-duty
trucks, buses and motorcycles. |
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| From the earliest days
of motorized travel, automotive recyclers
have been leaders. These entrepreneurs developed
a disassembly process for salvaged automobiles
in order to reclaim reusable parts and components,
and, thus, established an efficient automotive
recycling system. For more than 75 years,
automotive recyclers have been providing local
employment, consumer service, and environmental
conservation, worldwide. |
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| Automotive recycling serves
a vital role in preserving natural resources
and reducing the demand for scarce landfill
space. For example, the industry recycles
over 4 million motor vehicles annually (in
the U.S. and Canada alone), thereby saving
an estimated 11 million gallons of oil that
would otherwise be used in the manufacture
of new replacement parts. Additional energy
and resource conservation is realized by recycling
rebuildable "core" parts to the
automotive parts rebuilding industry. |
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| In addition to conserving
natural resources, automotive recycling plays
an important role in reducing air and water
pollution, and solid waste generation. Automotive
recyclers must abide by stringent local and
national regulations on dealing with waste
generated by salvaged automobiles. Many individual
automotive recyclers have also instituted
their own unique programs to further reduce
the potential effects of harmful materials
to their businesses and communities. |
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| Automotive recycling has
evolved into a sophisticated market and technology-driven
industry that constantly changes to keep abreast
of innovations in automotive technology and
manufacturing techniques. Rather than merely
crushing wrecked, abandoned, and mechanically
disabled motor vehicles, today's modern recycling
facilities have a definitive operational scheme
that maximizes the vehicle's true market value,
all the while providing an economic and environmental
benefit to the community. |
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| In a typical modern recycling
business, inoperative motor vehicles are brought
into a facility where the hazardous and recyclable
fluids are properly drained. Undamaged parts
are then dismantled from the vehicle, cleaned,
tested, inventoried, and stored in a warehouse
until sold. The remaining vehicle hulk is
then prepared for scrapping. |
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| Automotive recyclers are
a valuable source for economical and often
hard to find used motor vehicle replacement
parts. Professional auto recyclers use computer
and satellite communication systems that enable
for direct inventory assessment as well as
locate parts across town or across the continent,
by simply entering the appropriate data into
their computer system. This technology allows
recyclers to maximize their inventories and
provide quick and efficient service to their
customers. |
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